Sena women wing chief held for caste slur

Satinder Pal Singh

Dera Bassi, June 25

The police have arrested Asha Kalia, national chairperson of the women wing of the Shiv Sena Hind, and another woman for allegedly beating up and making casteist remarks against a woman in the presence of the police and some local residents at the Dera Bassi police station.

The third person is still at large. However, Asha Kalia refuted the allegations.

Last evening, the police registered a case under Section 3 of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and Sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC against Asha Kalia, National Chairperson, Women Wing, Shiv Sena Hind, Mandeep Laadi, a financier, and Mamta on a complaint lodged by Jyoti, a resident of Dera Bassi. Complainant Jyoti, along with her husband Rakesh Kumar and mother-in-law Sunita, had come to the Dera Bassi police station in connection with a complaint lodged by her against Asha Kalia, Mandeep Laadi and Mamta, both residents of Dera Bassi.

Soon, Asha Kalia, Mamta and Laadi also reached the police station. Following an argument regarding a complaint, a scuffle broke out between complainant Jyoti and Asha in the presence of police staff and others at the police station last noon. The police had to intervene to end the scuffle.

Jyoti had alleged that Asha Kalia, along with Laadi and another woman Mamta, beat her up and her mother-in-law Sunita and also made casteist remarks against her.

The complainant said Asha had also threatened her of dire consequences. Jyoti had also levelled allegations against Laadi, a financier, for beating her and tearing off her clothes.

IO Harjit Singh said the police registered a case on Monday and arrested Asha and Mamta.  The police today produced them before the Judicial Magistrate, which sent them to 14-day judicial custody.

Drama at police station

Sources said on Tuesday morning, Asha Kalia allegedly hurt herself by banging her head against the wall on the premises of the police station. She also tried to tear off her clothes in front of the staff. She even accused the police of misbehaving with her. However, Asha stated that she did not tear off her clothes and in return had blamed police officials for misbehaving with her. Satinder Singh, SHO, Dera Bassi police station said nobody misbehaved with her. Asha allegedly tried to tear off her clothes, following which a woman constable was approached for help.